Flower Essences (and Environmental too) So Far! :-)

For the LATEST update, see my NEW blog: aartiana.wordpress.com/flower-essences/



FLOWER ESSENCES AVAILABLE

(if they have an asterisk (*) they are being created)


Flowers:

*Aster (Purple – Aster spp.)

Black Locust Tree (Robinia pseudoacacia)

Black Medick (Medicago lupulina)

Blue Lupine (Lupinus spp.)

Buttercup (Ranunculus acris)

Chickweed (Stellaria media)

Cranberry-Bush aka Cramp-Bark (Viburnum trilobum)

Creeping Bellflower (Campanula rapunculoides)

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis)

Filaree (aka Storksbill – Erodium cicutarium)

Goldenrod (Solidago Canadensis)

Horsetail (Equisetum spp.)

Hound’s Tongue (Cygnoglossum officinale)

Larkspur (Delphinium spp.)

Lilac (Purple and White Combined) (Syringia spp.)

Mallow (Malva neglecta)

*Mullein (Verbascum thapsis)

Penstemon (Penstemon azureus)

Pink-White Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

Pink Rose (Rosa spp.)

Prickly Lettuce (Lactuga serriola)

Red Clover (Trifolium pratense)

Rocky Mountain Bee Plant/SpiderPlant (Purple – Cleome serrulata)

Saint John’s Wort (Hypericum perforatum)

Salsify (Yellow/Western) (Tragopogon dubius)

Self-Heal (Prunella vulgaris)

Shepherd’s Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris)

Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea maculosa)

Tansy (Tanecetum vulgare)

Thistle (Carduus spp., Cirsium spp.)

Toadflax (aka Butter & Eggs – Linaria vulgaris)

*Trillium (White – Trillium spp.)

White Campion (Silene latifolia)

*White Clover (Trifolium repens)

White Lupine (Lupinus spp.)

Woodland Star (Lithophragma tenellum)

Yarrow (aka Milfoil – Achilles millefolium)

Yellow Dock (aka Curly Dock – Rumex crispus)


Environmental:

Siberian Elm “Branch-Fall” from Wind (Leaves only-Ulmus pumila)

*Sugar Maple (Acer Saccharum) – fallen leaves in Autumn.

aartiana.wordpress.com

Siberian Elm Essence!

On July 10, 2008, after much earlier deliberation with my board members of the astrological group in which (don't ask) I have been the reluctant "Prez," I called the national group's representative (who happens to over time become a good friend of mine) to tell her that our group is "dis-engaging" from the national one, due to the fact that it has been a total struggle to meet requirements, and it has now gotten so hard to do so that it is just better if we continue our group without the national affiliation. That night, we had a heck of a wind-storm, and the Siberian Elm (Ulmus pumila) managed to have one of its larger branches come crashing down. I didn't discover it until the next day, after I called one of my best clients to wish him a happy solar return (birthday). Interestingly, he also had a similar experience, as he was leaving his employer to go solo himself!

I gave the tree Reiki - however, this time - the tree "told" me to make an essence with it. Amongst other things that it told me, it said that it was to be used for types of people who have much responsibility, as it would help them with it - and reading "Elm" with Dr. Bach's essences matches that pretty well. However, it also told me it was to help those carrying inappropriate responsibility to not only recognize it, but to release it back to appropriate sources. The tree had directed me to not only use the leaves from the large fallen branch, but also the leaves from the standing, living tree - and also some leaves from the new growth at the base of the tree, to give a very "rounded" essence. I "saw" my square glass bowl (like with the Dandelion essence) instead of the round one that I normally use, and my pendulum told me to start it on the Saturn Hour, which was getting close to the sunsetting time - so I knew the sunlight had nothing to do with making this essence. I allowed it to sit for a full 24 hours - and when I picked it up to process, there were ants around it (yet another Saturn element).

When looking up Elm in my magically-based books, not only did I learn it was ruled by Saturn (which explains the whole responsibility thing), but I was reminded that Elves were have considered to live in Elm Trees. I then decided to look at the Latin name, Ulmus pumila - and I learned that pumila means "Dwarf" - so this essence has a Dwarf energy as well! In thinking about how the Elves and Dwarves are portrayed in the Legendarium, I could see how this essence could be of use to those of us who are drawn to, or work with, those energies! In a way, I also consider the Siberian Elm "Branch-Fall" one to be my first "environmental" essence hehehe! Thanks for reading!

(Coming Later - a complete list of the Flower Essences made so far - there are 18 at last count!)

Tarnin Austa, the "Gates of Summer" (Solstice!)

June 21st (Solstice): The "Gates of Summer" (Tarnin Austa) is the Elven Midsummer festival which starts the prior night and anticipates the rising of the Anar, the Sun in the East, who is "steered" in the skies by a fiery Maia (meaning "Beautiful One") named Arien. This year, we are also very lucky to witness at virtually the same time a Full Moon, as well as Elemmirë (Mercury) going direct!

In the Elven stories, the Sun was created by the last fruit from the female Golden Tree named Laurelin (whereas Isil, the Moon was created from the last flower from the male Silver Tree, Telperion, and "steered" in the skies by the Maia Tilion). The trees themselves (before their destruction by the Dark One) were created by Yavanna Kementari, Queen of the Earth and Giver of Fruits (in what could be seen as the "Elven Pantheon" that are collectively called the Valar). The Sun, Moon and Stars were all made by Varda Elentari, Queen of the Stars - the Elves deemed her their favorite of all of the Valar. She is the one in Lord of the Rings referred to as Lady Elbereth Gilthoniel, and her energies are very protective! She also created out of Telperion's sap Valacirca, the Sickle of the Valar to keep the Dark One at bay - today, we know this star constellation as the Big Dipper.

The fullest description of Tarnin Austa is set in the hidden Elven city of Gondolin, as shown in this quote from JRR Tolkien's Book II of the Lost Tales (aka HoME Vol. II):

"[…] and now at length is that great feast Tarnin Austa or the Gates of Summer near at hand. For know that on a night it was their custom to begin a solemn ceremony at midnight, continuing it even till the dawn of Tarnin Austa broke, and no voice was uttered in the city from midnight till the break of day, but the dawn they hailed with ancient songs.

"For years uncounted had the coming of summer thus been greeted with music of choirs, standing upon their gleaming eastern wall; and now comes even the night of vigil and the city is filled with silver lamps, while in the groves upon the new-leaved trees lights of jewelled colours swing, and low musics go along the ways, but no voice sings until the dawn.

"The sun has sunk beyond the hills and folk array them for the festival very gladly and eagerly -- glancing in expectation to the East."

For more information on the "Loa" or the Elven Calendar, please click on the "Calendar" link when visiting www.elvenspirituality.com, or visit the Forum of Aikanar's group at forum.westofwest.org.

Making Dandelion Flower Essence!

Now that the weather is warm, I try to get outside as much as possible. Living in Montana USA makes me appreciate the seasons more than ever. Although I was born here (so I have ancestral connection), I was raised in California, and mostly in San Diego!

I have been called by the plants here in my yard to begin making my own line of flower essences. You see, I had always purchased them in the past. I have used flower essences for healing me, my family, and my astrological clients for at least ten years. I "dowse" the right essences most of the time. To explain how flower essences work for our healing, the simplest way is to tell you that nearly all sickness happens in the emotional realm before manifesting physically. The flower kingdom (as well as other kingdoms) provides different re-educational "messages" that go directly to the emotional body of a person, "flood" the vibration of that person with the particular flower(s) that is needed for healing, and the emotional body responds by "matching" the new vibration - however, when this happens, we often get some wake-up calls about what was wrong in the first place. You can tell someone until you are blue in the face what is happening, but until they are in that "space" nothing will happen. This is why flower essences work, and often counseling is just too darned slow! Along with physical treatment if needed, healing occurs and because the emotional plane has been cleared of the imprint that attracted the issue to begin with, it will likely not reoccur.

So, my first essence was Dandelion, since they bloom first. If only we can ALL be as utterly RESILIENT as the Dandelion!! Astrologically, it is ruled by Jupiter (which in medical astrology rules the Liver, and it seems appropriate since one of Dandelion's best physical qualities is detoxing the Liver). Because of its yellow color, I also knew it would help the solar plexus chakra, which coincides with the Liver area. However, when preparing, I "felt" for no apparent reason that I needed to provide a healthy and strong Saturn influence, so I made the essence on a Saturday (ruled by Saturn) and at first, I wanted to use the Jupiter hour - and interestingly, Jupiter and the Moon were both together in Capricorn (ruled by Saturn), making a wonderful aspect with Saturn, in Virgo, the sign of health! However, to wait for the Jupiter hour would have too late in the day, so I decided to instead use the Moon hour since it was with Jupiter anyway!

When the Moon hour came in the afternoon, I was prepared with my energized distilled water and instead of using a round glass bowl, I was "directed" to instead use a square one. Odd, I thought - and then I realized the "square" shape is again emphasizing the Saturn influence. Apparently, this essence will have a strong physical signature rather than just an emotional one. In reading about another company who manufactures Dandelion flower essence, there is a mention of helping an over-driven personality type to not only calm down, but to understand, and then release, their constant muscular tension. Perfect! I learned that many massage therapists who work with the essences add Dandelion (amongst others) for their treatments by either adding a few drops to the massage oil, or spraying the room with Dandelion-infused aromatherapy waters.

I dowsed which patch of Dandelions wished to participate in my healing essence making. I was then careful to place the square glass bowl in the sun with no shadows, poured in the prepared water, and sat with the Dandelions. As a modified way of creating a spiritual area via the Elven Path, I called upon the golden light and the silver light that would be as if they were "mists" in my area, and I toned this area in Elvish. I then asked for help from the Valar, the Elven Pantheon, especially Vana the Ever-Young as she has dominion over flowers. I also asked for help from the couple Lorien and Este, since they possess healing qualities, particularly when we sleep - Lorien through dreams and uplifting inspiration, and Este through physical regeneration through sleep. Also, Nienna, she-who-cries is a very powerful healer. Then, I hand-picked all of the Dandelion flowers that wished to participate in the essence making, and asked that the "devas" or plant spirits would enter the water to serve other life in need of their vibrational healing qualities. I then sat with the Dandelions for a time while their flowers were in the bowl of water and just allow myself to bathe in these vibrations. I noticed I was indeed feeling physically better, with more energy. Upon using the rest-room when I came in the house, I then knew my body was listening to the "release" message! Success!

I dowsed that the bowl needed to be outside for two hours for the completion of the essence process, but I left it outside for about three. I brought the bowl into the house, of where I already had a jar waiting that was half filled with Christian Brothers Brandy, which has 40% alcohol, which helps preserve the vibration in the water (and keeps germs out). This brand was recommended by a rather well-known and excellent quality flower essence company (Alaskan Essences) and was what they used until they obtained an exclusive organic brandy for their use.

After pulling out the flower heads with my hands, I then poured the water through an unbleached coffee filter that I energized to allow all of the "essence" to come through and to just block out miscellaneous petals, bugs, and the like. I had some of the Dandelion water left over after I filled the jar with the brandy, so I just decided to drink the water. I could REALLY "taste" the Dandelion - WOW! Never thought of that before!

I then mixed up this "Mother Tincture" of Dandelion, and decided to make a "dosage bottle" for myself to take. I got an empty one-ounce dropper bottle, and I was directed to put 4 "squirts" of the Dandelion mother tincture into it. Then, I filled it a quarter of the way with more brandy, and then filled it up to the top with distilled water I energized (you could also use spring water to make everything).

To take an essence, you usually need 2-3 drops 3-4 times a day. I add mine to my distilled drinking water all at one time and drink it throughout the day (and I usually drink between 1 and 2 quarts of water a day, which I guess would be about 1.5 liters). If a person has alcohol sensitivity, they can apply the essence to their wrists, or place a few drops in an aromatherapy mister and spray externally, which is a wonderful way to experience essences!

I have been taking this essence in my drinking water for about two months now. I have noticed some progress, but I am no where near done - my pendulum tells me I need to take the essence for eight full months to achieve healing! In other words, the "message" of Dandelion for me needs to be repeated to my emotional body's vibration constantly for eight months until my body's vibration "matches" the vibration in the Dandelion flower essence. So, I look forward to learning how, and why, I hold body tension in my muscles.

I also recently had somewhat of a "reflexology" for my feet from a friend of mine, and I had her place some Dandelion essence from my dropper bottle on her hands first before doing so. Not only could I feel it, but she could! She is very empathic and thought she should keep some on-hand, so she later brought over one of her own bottles and I mixed her some for her work!

I look forward to making more vibrational healing essences from the Flower Kingdom. I didn't know I could have so much fun and that it was this easy (and over time, it will be much less expensive, and I can share with others much easier!)

(For more online about Flower Essences and other natural vibrational remedies, visit Vibrations e-Magazine at www.floweressencemagazine.com).

Elven Calendar ("Loa")

From Tolkien:
Turuhalmë (Elven "LogDrawing") December 21st
Solvalwaris (Purification, begin Stirring): February 2nd
Yestarë (Elven New Year, begin Spring): March 28th
Nost-na-Lothion (Day of Flowers, begin Summer) May 22nd
Tarnin Austa (Gates of Summer) June 21st
Yavië (begin Elven Autumn) August 2nd
Enderi (Middle Days, begin Fading) September 25-27th (all 3 days)

Improvised by Tië eldaliéva:
Cuiverë Quendiva (First day of Winter/Origins of the Elves) November 21st


Tië eldaliéva improvised the Full Moons too, using the Legendarium as much as possible, and will be in the book when published. For full article, visit www.elvenspirituality.com, and click on "Calendar" - ENJOY!

Calantirniel

Nost-na-Lothion, the Birth of Flowers Festival

May 22nd is Nost-na-Lothion, the Birth of Flowers Festival in the Hidden Elven City of Gondolin:

"[...] In these ways that bitter winter passed, and the snows lay deeper than ever before on the Encircling Hills; yet in its time a spring of wondrous glory melted the skirts of those white mantles and the valley drank the waters and burst into flowers.

"So came and passed with revelry of children the festival of Nost-na-Lothion or the Birth of Flowers, and the hearts of the Gondothlim were uplifted for the good promise of the year..."

(From JRR Tolkien, The Book of Lost Tales II, the portion entitled “The Fall of Gondolin”)

Gondothlim refers to the Elven Peoples of Gondolin. It also marks the arrival of Lairë, the Elven Summer. This Feast holiday shares an energetic signature with what we know as Beltane or May Day. Also, on a stellar level, Remmirath (the Pleiades constellation) rises with Anar, the Sun, this day. In the tradition of the Elven Path, we align this holiday with Vana, the Ever-Young, who resonates with new plant growth and flowers. It happens to be one of my favorite holidays in the Elven calendar! :-)

Calantirniel
www.elvenspirituality.com

How I found Elven Spirituality

This is modified from an earlier MySpace posting - ENJOY!

It still seems very surreal to me when I explain this to others, as it wasn't just one event, but a series of events that brought my attention to this path. I had been involved in pursuing a spiritual path since my Saturn Return in 1993, when I had some unusual experiences that led me to learning astrology amongst other metaphysical talents - and those led me to exploring my spirituality, or connection to Spirit. Paganism as a whole seemed to have a missing ingredient - not just contact with Spirit but also ancestral contact. I resonated with many pagan mythologies and pantheons, from Celtic/Druidic and Teutonic/Norse to Egyptian, Hindu/Eastern Indian and even Native American. I never mixed these experiences but instead wish to immerse myself in one at a time to really "feel" that mythology and that pantheon. However, I never knew what was to come.

I had earlier experiences with Tolkien in my life (particularly with The Hobbit) and liked it, but my interest at the time told me they were just stories. My interest in Tolkien was put on the back burner until the Lord of the Rings movies came out. I absolutely loved the portrayals of the Elves, but CRAP WHO DIDN'T? :-) I then re-met my now husband who is a complete Tolkien Geek (a good thing!) and told me that if I liked the Elves that much, I should really read The Silmarillion, since it is the back-story to the Hobbit and LOTR and much of it was from the Elven point of view. We got married, moved from CA to MT and just "lived" for awhile, again pushing Tolkien to the back burner.

In August 2004, a friend (Fern) who identifies himself as an otherkin druid who resonates with ent and gnome energy (amongst other things) straight out asked me if I knew I was an Elf! I laughed SO HARD - as at the time I thought he was just messing with me. Then, I started thinking about why he would say that to me - and that led to wondering if he was right.

The final straw was when my husband found his copy of The Silmarillion for me to read in Spring 2005. NOTHING was to prepare me for what I experienced - I just KNEW at the deepest recesses of my heart, even down to a DNA level that these stories were utterly REAL!! And I mean "real" in a mythic mode, the way that some people feel about the Bible, and others feel about their respective mythologies and pantheistic connections with their ancestors (or past lives, or both). My head was telling me I was crazy and that these were just stories, but my heart and collective intuition would not rest. But then I had a new dilemma - how to find ANYONE who also felt this way!

Well, I was lucky enough to find him! It took me 8 days and very diligent internet effort, believe me! In fact, I learned that Dave had been searching for like-minded people in this endeavor for well over a decade without success. Here is the deal: Most people "role-play" the Elves in the story and only believe it to be a story - and this is their way of pretending or playing. Many other explorers of elven energies did not involve the Tolkien type, or the Quendi - in fact, many of these are of galactic origin, be they from galaxies in the direction of the Big Dipper (i.e. Elenari) to the Orion and Pleidaen systems. Of the non-roleplaying Tolkien Elves found, their emphasis is different than what we were looking for. There are also wiccans who used odd pairings of Middle-Earth characters in their practice, and this didn't feel right either. So this is our beginnings!

Now, Dave and his new wife have gone on to form Ilsalunte Valion, as their group is more research-oriented, where Tie eldalieva, the Elven Path, is more education and outreach-oriented. Regardless of our group leanings, all of us have different stories of how we came to this path, and contribute in our own ways. In the near future, Tie eldalieva, the Elven Path, hopes to submit a manuscript to Llewellyn. We wish to acknowledge and thank the handful of reputable pagan and magickal authors who have shown support for our project (and appreciate the information for presenting this material in a way wherein the Tolkien Estate would not have to be legally contacted!) :-) We will keep all of you posted.

For more information, please visit our websites:

Tie eldalieva - www.elvenspirituality.com

Ilsalunte Valion - forum.westofwest.org

If any material here interests you, we have many resources, so feel free to contact us - and ENJOY!!


Calantirniel, co-founder

Eclectic Pagans Podcast interviews Tië eldaliéva!!

Back in late August/early September, 2007, Calantirniel as well as the new Ilsalunte Valion co-founder Aikanar were interviewed by the awesome Tom and Baz on the Eclectic Pagans Podcast (EPP)!

We were Episode #26, please find their respective links here. The show is about an hour and our interview starts about 12 or 13 minutes in.

eclecticpagan.libsyn.com/ (The EPP Website)
www.podcastalley.com/player/player.php (The EPP Podcasts)
groups.yahoo.com/group/EclecticPagan/ (The EPP Yahoogroup)

Enjoy!
www.elvenspirituality.com (New Tië eldaliéva Website)

What is the Elven Path?

What is the Elven Path? For that matter, who were the Elves?

The following is a portion that comes from our "Statement of Beliefs" - ENJOY!
_____________________________________________

(A) word needs to be said about the term “Elves”. When we use that word here, we mean the Quendi—the beings described in the Legendarium. We do not mean fairies or other elementals, though those beings certainly exist in our experience; still less the images portrayed in popular culture, such as the “Drow”, and so forth (in particular, the Quendi did not have ‘pointy-ears’). Tolkien himself was at pains to distance the Quendi from more recent folklore:

“I now deeply regret having used ‘Elves’, though this is a word in ancestry and original meaning suitable enough. But the disastrous debasement of this word, in which Shakespeare played an unforgiveable part, has really overloaded it with regrettable tones, which are too much to overcome….My difficulty has been that, since I have tried to present a kind of legendary [sic] and history of a 'forgotten epoch', all the specific terms were in a foreign language, and no precise equivalents exist in English...” – From "Letters of JRRT" #151

If the Quendi could speak to us today, they might say something like this:

We are the Firstborn. We are the People of the Stars. We are a constant presence upon Arda guiding and nurturing the Earth, the Sea, and the Sky. Through cycles we come, and make our presence known to the Secondborn (Mankind) to turn them from the tainted courses of the Dark One—and then the Fading begins again. We are the students of the Valar and Maiar. We are the teachers of these same wisdoms to Man.

Long ago we faded when the last lieutenant of the Enemy (cursed be its name) was thrown down from its tower, and Mankind was given the inherited chance to guide the Earth on their own. They lost the wisdom, and we have returned like the Istari to reveal hope in despair, and light in darkness. Until the World fails we are bound to return, thus we are ever-renewing and our spirits immortal.

We are the Eldalië and this—this is our Tië (Path).

Aiya! Welcome to Tië eldaliéva, the Elven Path!

{Most text written in 2007 by Aikanar, Lomelindo and Llefyn. The “Charge of Tië eldaliéva” (above) was devised in 2006 by Lomion. We gratefully acknowledge the input of the other Founders and Friends in the production of this Statement.}

www.elvenspirituality.com